Greg Wyshynski, ESPNJun 21, 2024, 01:23 PM ET
CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
EDMONTON, Alberta — Connor McDavid has dominated the Stanley Cup Final with 11 points in five games, two behind Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 13 with Edmonton in 1988.
Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers’ other superstar, has not dominated in the Final. He has hardly made a whimper offensively.
His two assists in Edmonton’s 8-1 Game 4 win are his only points of the series against the Florida Panthers. Draisaitl has gone seven contests without a goal after scoring 10 in his first 16 playoff games of 2024. Overall, he has 30 points in 23 postseason games this year.
“Obviously not happy with the way I’m playing, haven’t found my game, haven’t found my leg. Just not the standard that I hold myself to, obviously,” Draisaitl said Friday, hours before Game 6.
Draisaitl demurred when asked whether the Panthers’ defense or his revolving door of linemates contributed to his slump.
“It’s me,” he said. “I hold myself to extremely high standards, and if I don’t get to that, obviously I’m not happy with it.”
Leon Draisaitl ranked second for the Edmonton Oilers in points (106) throughout this year’s regular season. He has struggled to re-create that presence in the Stanley Cup Final with zero goals on 13 shots. Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images
His coach and teammates feel that Draisaitl’s standards might be a little too high and that he is contributing beyond the score sheet.
“I think he’s got to realize that even if he’s not feeling great, he’s still better than 99% of the guys out there,” said forward Dylan Holloway, who has been Draisaitl’s winger for much of the playoffs. “He’s been awesome. I think he’s just got to keep playing the way he is.”
Coach Kris Knoblauch called Draisaitl’s body of work “tremendous” and said his star might be too hard on himself.
“I’ve seen Leon play better than he has, but I think he’s contributing a lot and I think he’s harder on himself than he should be,” Knoblauch…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40401736/leon-draisaitl-not-happy-play-goalless-cup-final
Author : Greg Wyshynski
Publish date : 2024-06-21 18:47:09
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